Page 31 - State of Biodiversity 2018/19

the Integrated Development Plan’s (IDP) strategic focus on the Building of Human Capital. Practical experience has demonstrated that this skills gap is particularly acute in the biodiversity field and among previously disadvantaged communities – EPCPD has been directly affected by the lack of skills.
Biodiversity Skills Pilot Project 2016-2018: Year 1 and 2
In response to the challenges, EPCPD initiated the Biodiversity Skills Pilot Project in October 2016. The pilot project aimed to work with a select group of learners from previously disadvantaged schools, providing them with support, mentorship and skills development for Life Sciences as well as exposure to the Biodiversity field. A total of 24 learners in Grade 11 from five different schools (Cato Manor,Wiggins, Bonella, Chesterville, and Mayville Secondary Schools) in the Cato Manor area participated in the pilot project. As part of the pilot project, learners were exposed to a range of activities that included life science tuition lessons, life science classroom practicals, biodiversity field trips and excursions, career guidance and mentoring.The first year of implementation was completed in December 2017, and the learners who participated in the Biodiversity Skills Pilot Project have progressed into Grade 12. A second year of the pilot was focused on the Life Science Revision Programme and the same range of activities that were offered inYear 1.The second year of the pilot was completed in November 2018. A final evaluation of the second year was completed in June 2019. This evaluation demonstrated that the learners had benefitted greatly from the programme in terms of improved skills in Life Sciences and in building confidence and maturity. Seventeen learners achieved matric exemption passes and five have registered for either Environmental or Life Sciences degrees at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.The Pilot Project has provided important insights into how eThekwini Municipality can partner with relevant skills building organisations and research institutions in order to understand and address the critical skills gaps in the Biodiversity field.
STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2018/2019
27